England cricket captain Ben Stokes has issued a defiant response to his team's crushing first Test defeat, acknowledging their 'rubbish' performance in Perth while dismissing accusations of arrogance from critics.
Stokes addressed the media in Brisbane ahead of Thursday's crucial day/night second Test, following a two-day defeat at Optus Stadium that left travelling fans and players alike devastated. The all-rounder insisted the squad shares the profound disappointment of their supporters and is utterly determined to turn the series around.
Stokes Responds to 'Arrogant' Criticism
Former Australian pace bowler Mitchell Johnson led the criticism in a strongly-worded newspaper column, branding the England team 'arrogant' following their comprehensive loss. The West Australian newspaper had previously labelled Stokes a 'cocky captain complainer'.
While accepting scrutiny of his team's performance, Stokes took particular issue with any suggestion that his squad possesses an arrogant attitude. 'I think arrogant might be a little bit too far, but that's OK. We'll take the rough with the smooth,' Stokes stated. 'Call us whatever you want. I'd rather words like 'rubbish', but 'arrogant', I'm not so sure about that.'
England's Perth Collapse and Fan Sympathy
The dramatic collapse saw England surrender a promising position at lunch on day two to suffer a heavy defeat within just a few hours. The performance drew widespread criticism regarding the team's pre-series preparations and questionable shot selection.
Stokes expressed deep empathy for the thousands of England fans who made the long journey to Australia, as well as those who stayed up through the night in the UK to watch the match. 'We love our fans and we know we've got an incredible fanbase who come out here and support us,' he said. 'They want to see us win, we want to win, we're absolutely desperate. They're absolutely desperate. We're all on the same wavelength.'
Looking Ahead to the Second Ashes Test
Despite the disappointing start to the NRMA Insurance Ashes Series 2025, Stokes emphasised that the team's ultimate goal remains unchanged. With four Tests remaining in the five-match series, the England captain believes his team can still achieve their pre-series ambition of winning the Ashes.
'We know that there'll be a lot of disappointed fans in England after that first defeat,' Stokes conceded. 'But it's a five game series, we've got four games to go. We've lost the first one – we're absolutely desperate to come home with that goal from before we even started the series, which is to win the Ashes.'
The England squad is now preparing with five training sessions in Brisbane before the pivotal day/night second Test begins on Thursday, determined to level the series and silence their critics.
